Cowboys QB Dak Prescott to scramble more during 2022 NFL season?

Back in October 2020, Dallas Cowboys star quarterback Dak Prescott suffered a gruesome compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle that understandably had the franchise nervous about his long-term health last summer. 

Prescott has since survived the ups and downs of playing through an entire season coming off the injury, and head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters Tuesday he's ready to give the 28-year-old additional opportunities to make plays with his legs during the upcoming campaign.

"I think like anything, this is year three in the offense and the opportunity to move more potentially than he did in the past, as far as what he's being asked to do," McCarthy explained, according to Kevin Patra of the league's website. "I think he's clearly, the thing that jumps out to me, is his movement ability in the scramble drills and scramble situations. The way he activates scramble drills. He's gotten more reps at it, it's more natural to him, so he looks really good."

McCarthy admitted Dallas "tried to be smart" regarding Prescott's continued recovery and "didn't call as many quarterback runs than probably prior" in 2021. According to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, Prescott averaged 3.0 yards per carry and 0.4 rushing first downs per game last season after he averaged 5.1 yards per attempt and 1.5 rushing first downs per game from 2016-2020. 

As noted by ESPN stats, Prescott ended the 2021 regular season third among eligible signal-callers with a 104.2 passer rating, 11th with a 54.6 total QBR, seventh with 4,449 passing yards and tied for fourth with 37 touchdowns through the air.